Codesign as a strategy to enhance health and well-being in hospital nursing teams

Abstract

Mental health and well-being in hospital work environments remain critical challenges, as organizational and psychosocial factors, such as high workloads, emotional demands, and adverse working conditions, continue to affect healthcare professionals, particularly nursing staff. This study aims to investigate how codesign approaches can contribute to the identification, development, and implementation of health and well-being interventions in this context. To this end, an exploratory and descriptive case study was conducted at Einstein Hospital Israelita, employing qualitative and quantitative methods. The codesign process resulted in the generation of 36 ideas, of which four were selected for prototyping and implementation across ten institutional areas, based on needs identified by participants. The findings indicate that codesign supported the identification of situated needs, the collaborative development of solutions, and the engagement of professionals throughout the process. The implemented interventions demonstrate the feasibility of applying participatory approaches to address complex organizational challenges. As a contribution, the study highlights the potential of codesign as a methodological approach to support the management of complex problems in healthcare by integrating design techniques and tools into participatory processes. Additionally, it offers implications for the design field by evidencing its role in mediating collaborative processes and fostering user-centered innovations in hospital environments.